Posted on 06/19/2006 by BoneyardDiva
Viewed: 559 times
I set up an appointment through HR for a company in my hometown, which was a 30 minute drive from my house. I figured I’d try it...I was unemployed at the time. I showed up on time & was swiftly whisked up to an interview room. I was left alone for a moment & a chirpy woman about my age asked me some questions & checked them off of a list. She seemed thoroughly impressed with my education, experience, & answers. So she left the room & got someone else to follow-up.
As soon as the middle-aged, frumpy woman tromped into the room, the whole atmosphere changed. She started pounding me with questions about why I left a job to return to college. (duh) I did my best, but she’d already decided what was going to occur. She finally looked at me & said, “Convince me to hire you.” I seriously should have left right then & there because I knew she’d already made up her mind. I attempted a weak plea, but it was useless.
When I left, I felt like I’d been put through the ringer. The HR rep walked me down to the lobby & asked me how I think it went. I told her the truth, that the first woman was fair, but the second woman was not impressed by me. The HR rep seemed surprised.
Amazing how these morons LOVE to waste my time. When the 2nd woman asked me why I applied, I told her that HER company contacted ME. She was probably shocked!
POST A COMMENTM. in Wisconsin(06/19/2006)
Sometimes interviewers want to see how you handle pressure. One guy who interviewed me picked up a pencil from his desk and said, "Sell me this pencil." Sometimes, but not always, high-pressure interviews are a clue to the company's culture. What companies, HR people and others do not seem to grasp is that, especially with consumer services or products, the whole search-and-screen process is a marketing or PR opportunity. They should be trying to build a relationship with you while vetting you for the job. I have good feelings about several companies where I interviewed but never worked because the whole process was handled so well ono the part of the company. I am sorry to say that this is rare!
twiz(06/19/2006)
I agree. I wouldn't assume the second lady didn't like you just because she came across that way in the interview. It could just be a tactic they use to see how people react to different situations. Never count yourself out to them, even when you think things are going bad! Good luck!
the cynic(06/19/2006)
I've been there. Interviewed at a staffing company once (to be a staffer). The first girl loved me, then said, "Let me go get Mike (the manager) to see if he had any questions." And boy did Mike ever have questions--why did I major in social work and then apply for a 'sales' (recruiting) job? Did I mentione that his entire staff is made up of psychology majors and that the last girl told me psych was a perfect fit? Then he told me that it was "strange" that I'd changed majors and focuses over the years, because "In my opinion, what we do when we're young is what we're programmed to do. Thats' just how it is, so you are not what we want. I know you'll hate hearing this, but you need to go back to the nonprofit world and stay there, since that's where you started. Now get out."
BoneyardDiva(06/19/2006)
cynic...I totally understand. The woman didn't think that going to school was a good thing. I just felt that if SHE were going to be my supervisor, I'd rather hang myself. I was glad when they didn't ask me back. Plus, the drive would have been horrible.
the cynic(06/19/2006)
The guy who interviewed me would have been a nightmare too. I googled him later and found a gossippy website where the general consensus is that he hires pretty, single girls under 25 for a particular reason. Ewe.
M. in Wisconsin(06/19/2006)
Yup, you're better off not working for these people and their companies. Any company that does not take the screening process serouisly enough to develop policies and procedures and train its employees to do interviews is bad news. That careless approach to hiring will will over into other areas. Look at it this way, an interview is an opportunity for the candidate to seek a good fit, too. It goes both ways.
milkmaidinwisconsin(06/19/2006)
I have been interviewed often and been the interviweer more. Guess what people it's not an invitation to a party! Some HR routines are just that ROUTINE. Some are trying the approach of the week while others moonlight partime as the janitor! Whatever the situation WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD where we all deal with unfair and difficult people and situations. The interview is your chance, an opportunity to handle it.Often times that is what they are watching for. Fair? No? Dumb? Perhaps but if you need to be treated with kid gloves then open a glove store and work for yourself!
WalkingInMyOwnShoes(06/20/2006)
Disagree, what you see is what your get as far as interviews are concerned. Sloppy techniques = sloppy workplace. I've seen candidates bend over backwards, even do sample work because the interviewer was shorthanded. They never contacted them. Pity the one who did get the job. It was downhill from there.
the cynic(06/20/2006)
I think we are all a little too aware of how "the real world works," thanks very much. We aren't kids. But just because things happen in the real world does not mean they are ethical or that we should have to like it, OR work in that type of environment. There is no reason to call a candidate for an interview, and then spend the interview putting them down and asking them why the hell they even bothered applying (especially when they called us first!). That is a bait and switch and a time waster, not "a stress interview" (which is more a type of practice for the position). There are ways to interview people without calling them, sounding excited, then in person being hostile and nasty about their credentials and even turning them away at the doorstep as happened to me. For every nasty interviewer there are many, many good ones who act professional, and even in "a stress interview" don't usually come straight out and tell you you're a fool if you think you're getting hired.
milkmaidinwisconsin(06/20/2006)
Perhaps the "Real World" is a misnomer. In a "Perfect World" the interviewer would be savvy, smart and evoke thge best out of the candidate. Our is not a perfect world. We can all exchange our litany of war stories and feel validated if we choose. Nothing wrong with a little commradery BUT in the alternative we can act and work to effect change. If you are met with a dismissive individual then give them something postive to focus on and shake them out of their malaise. My point was that no interviewer is going to meet exspectations if you are more focused on what they fail to do rather than what you can contribute. Sell yourself. Look at it as a challenge. Attitude effects outcome. Swimming in the "pity pot" only keeps you toxic!
Spencer(06/20/2006)
"Sell me this pencil" LMFAO! Where do people get off? This aint Trump's boardroom. What did they expect you to do..."well ya see here, this baby's made of high tech number 2 lead and there's not a mistake in the world that this top of the line pink eraser can't cean up. Did I mention it was ergonomically soldered to the end of 100% imported wood interior core? Looks to me like your organization can use about 1400 cases!"
M. in Wisconsin(06/21/2006)
Spencer, why didn't I think of that? I babbled something totally lame at the time, but I think they hired me out of desparation. I was just out of college and pretty desparate myself. But seriously, interviews are an chance for job seekers to test the waters, too. And, time after time (for me, anyway), the interview has proven to be a taste of what the company is like. So if they treat you like that before they hire you, imagine how they will treat you when they think they own you! Question: Did anyone here take a job when their gut said "Run!" How did it turn out?
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